title: Investigation into atropine-induced antinociception.
abstract: 1. The effect of atropine on the nociceptive system was examined in mice and rats by use of the hot-plate, writhing and tail-flick tests. 2. Atropine dose-dependently produced analgesia, no effect and hyperalgesia. Analgesia was observed in both species with doses ranging from 1 to 100 micrograms kg-1 while hyperalgesia was obtained with 5 mg kg-1. 3. Atropine antinociception was prevented by pirenzepine (0.1 microgram per mouse, i.c.v.), dicyclomine (10 mg kg-1, i.p.), atropine-methylbromide (0.5 microgram per mouse, i.c.v.) and hemicholinium-3 (1 microgram per mouse, i.c.v.). Naloxone (1 mg kg-1, i.p.), alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (100 mg kg-1, s.c.) and reserpine (2 mg kg-1, i.p.) were ineffective. 4. The site of atropine analgesia is in the CNS since it exerts its antinociceptive effect also when injected i.c.v. (1-10 ng per mouse). Moreover drugs which do not cross the blood-brain barrier, such as hemicholinium-3, pirenzepine and atropine methylbromide, were unable to antagonize atropine analgesia if administered i.p. 5. Atropine also in vitro, showed a biphasic action on electrically-evoked guinea-pig ileum contractions. Concentrations between 10(-14) and 10(-12) M increased electrically and nicotine-evoked contractions but did not affect acetylcholine- and oxotremorine-evoked contractions. Concentrations above 10(-9) M inhibited both electrically- and drug (acetylcholine, nicotine and oxotremorine)-evoked contractions while they were ineffective on unstimulated ileum. 6. On the basis of the above findings, amplification of cholinergic transmission by very low doses of atropine is postulated, through a selective blockade of presynaptic muscarinic autoreceptors, as the likely mechanism of action. 7. Atropine antinociception, unlike oxotremorine antinociception, was obtained without any impairment of mouse rota-rod performance. 8. The antagonism by pirenzepine and dicyclomine of oxotremorine and atropine antinociception suggests that M1 muscarinic receptor subtypes are responsible for cholinergic analgesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preclinical and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ghelardini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Malmberg-Aiello
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giotti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malcangio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bartolini
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics; D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004025:Dicyclomine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D010095:Oxotremorine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology; D010890:Pirenzepine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D009270:Naloxone; D010890:Pirenzepine; D004025:Dicyclomine; D010095:Oxotremorine; D001285:Atropine